Cisterns are water-proof receptacles which are primarily used for storing rainwater. They may vary in size from small tanks in individual households to major constructions such as the Basilica Cistern in Istanbul.
Screenshot from the AGLAIA sign for Cistern
Cisterns are water-proof receptacles which are primarily used for storing rainwater. They may vary in size from small tanks in individual households to major constructions such as the Basilica Cistern in Istanbul.
Simple water storage vessels and primitive rock-carved basins date back to the Stone Age and Neolithic periods to secure drinking water and help with early agriculture. More advanced versions cut into rock underground appeared in the Bronze Ages. By the Roman and Byzantine eras, cisterns were major architectural features incorporated into urban water management systems which supplied water for both domestic purposes, agriculture and public baths and fountains. Even today, cisterns are widely used for water capture in homes, for supporting irrigation of crops and where it isn’t feasible to build wells.
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The Grotta della Dragonara
F S. Barbato
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A quick search in the ARIADNE Catalogue shows that cisterns are to be found across all of Europe and across the time span from around 10,000 BCE onwards. The International Association of Classical Archaeology has over 1,600 resources on cisterns from its FastiOnline database which provides further fascinating details about each resource. An example is the “Grotta della Dragonara”in Capo Miseno, Italy. Dating from the Roman era, the cistern can hold several thousand cubic metres, making it likely that it was associated with the military port of Misenum.
This paper, “History of Water Cisterns: Legacies and Lessons“, provides a good overview of the history of cisterns.
Reference
Mays, L.; Antoniou, G.P.; Angelakis, A.N. History of Water Cisterns: Legacies and Lessons. Water 2013, 5, 1916-1940. https://doi.org/10.3390/w5041916